The Other Kind of Smart: Simple Ways to Boost Your Emotional Intelligence for Greater Personal Effectiveness and Success

by Harvey Deutschendorf

Emotional intelligence (EI) coach Harvey Deutschendorf combines his proven techniques with engaging principles of storytelling and fun exercises to show you how you can apply the principles of EI on the job to achieve greater success. Filled with real-life profiles of people who faced emotional intelligence dilemmas and easy-to-implement solutions, Other Kind of Smart offers tools that will bring results in as little as five minutes a day and teaches you how The difference between those who become successful in life and those who struggle is their ability to exhibit and leverage strong people skills. Complete with an EI quiz that will help you measure their level of emotional intelligence and EI growth, Other Kind of Smart enables all professionals to improve their relationships and increase their effectiveness at work in a practical, accessible way.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Psychology, Relationships, Personal Development

224 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2009

About the author

Harvey Deutschendorf (Alberta, Canada) is an emotional intelligence coach who has worked in the field of EI for more than 10 years, and a Certified Administrator of the BarOn EQI, the first scientifically valid test for emotional intelligence approved by the American Psychological Association.

Reviews

[Sarenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

After sitting through a seminar on EI for work, I figured it was probably a good idea to grab a book and do a more in-depth refresher on the basic principles. This book provides a good overview, but if you're looking for something in-depth, this probably isn't the book you're looking for. The author really tried to bring the concepts home with examples, but some of them just fell flat. I found myself skimming portions of the book simply because a lot of what was written seemed redundant.

That said, there are some good tidbits of information here and pulling them out and I can see how applying them in your work and daily life can yield great benefits. I liked how at the end of the chapters the author gave a few ideas of how to increase your EI, but overall, these ideas could have been found in any self-help book. Write a gratitude list, look for the positive in situations, avoid negativity.

Again, not a bad book, but not an amazing one either.

[Carole Kanchier · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE OTHER KIND OF SMART

Book Review by Carole Kanchier, PhD

Do you want to understand your feelings such as anger and self-worth, and learn how to manage them better in personal and professional situations? Would you like to cultivate optimism and other mental habits of happy people? If so, The Other Kind of Smart, by Harvey Deutschendorf, emotional intelligence expert, is for you!
Deutschendorf contends that unlike cognitive functions, your emotional capacities are flexible, adaptable, and expandable. Filled with inspir¬ing stories of individuals who have tapped into the power of their emotional intelligence or are facing real-life emotion-packed dilemmas, The Other Kind of Smart opens your eyes to crucial, yet often ignored life lessons. These include how to become more assertive, how to develop healthy relationships, how to manage stress and control impulses, how to handle anger and conflict, how to enhance happiness and optimism, and how to navigate change and move beyond material thinking of success to achieve self-defined personal and career goals. The inspiring quotes of famous people throughout the book strengthen Deutschendorf's message, and the exercises at the end of each chapter help strengthen emotional intelligence capacities.
Easy to read, enduring, and practical, The Other Kind of Smart, which draws upon Deutschendorf's extensive research and coaching expertise, is a valuable guide for adults representing different ages, cultural, and occupational backgrounds. The book offers simple techniques to help readers develop confidence, courage, and strategies to improve the quality of their lives, and increase their effectiveness at home, work and community settings.

[Natalia Corres · Rating 5 out of 5]

For many years, our culture has focused on IQ – whether in the traditional “book smart” way, or the more culturally accepted “Street smart” or “Common Sense” versions. Neglecting “The Other Kind of Smart” has also left us with an atrophy of empathy – evidenced easily when watching the evening news of shootings, xenophobia, and the like. “The Other Kind of Smart” is a book about emotional intelligence – saying that is simplistic. It is about how to be “Heart Smart” starting with ourselves - to understand the feelings that are attached to our behaviors and responses and then seeing and understanding them in others – perhaps more powerful than IQ in that it opens new perspectives that might not be seen in any other way. It may also allow you to build relationships that may have seemed impossible from a strictly analytical viewpoint. As a business person I recommend this book for its insights into how to read employees, customers, clients for deeper connections to what they want and need from you; as a human being in a world that seems like it is devolving back to tribal behaviors of fear and conquering – I recommend this book as a step towards a more evolved exploration of who we are and how we can exist with each other. This book gives practical examples of how to build your “Other Kind of Smart” and some exercises that will help boost your awareness of the emotions that are the undercurrent of every relationship.

[Merrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harvey Deutschendorf’s contribution to literature on Emotional Intelligence is a worthy addition to the field. There is no doubt that individuals with high levels of emotional intelligence experience higher levels of productivity and joy throughout their lives. I’d recommend Other Kind of Smart particularly for those individuals who find it challenging to build strong relationships (at work in one’s personal life) or for those who received feedback that they need to work on their interpersonal skills.

[Michael Benner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's a great introduction to the field of Emotional Intelligence, especially with respect to EQ at work. The author makes a strong case for self-awareness being a pre-requisite to the development of empathy, relationship management, and leadership skills. The reader also comes to realize that emotions are not just something else to be logically considered. Emotions must be felt in the body and their significance realized intuitively.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific introduction to the concept of emotional intelligence and it's importance in creating a happy, fulfilling life. Some great actionable suggestions for making improvements or maximizing strengths, good stuff!!

[Alaeddin Hallak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stating point into EI. Easy read and contains lots of common and not so common sense advice.

[Karim Gamal]

it seems like amazing words .. i wanna to read it !

[Meowmeow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very easy to read and I finished it fast! I love the examples and the techniques for self-development provided with every chapter.

[Regan Brokaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

The other kind of smart by Harvey Deutschendorf is a fabulous novel explaining the difference between someone who is book smart and those who are more emotionally intelligent. This dive into what goes into the makings of a successful person is an important topic for people of all ages. I think educators could benefit and use this book to help their students prepare for the real world. Also, managers and CEOs would do well to be familiar with what are a concern or toxic characteristics to watch out for when hiring new people. I myself have noticed this when working in places that arrogance and harshness do not help the company and often cause people to quit. Overall the things talked about in this book should become common knowledge to everyone to make life better.

[Sherry Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great ideas.

[Mdlsr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh noes! The first meaningful book on EI I’m reading.

[Mohamed · Rating 5 out of 5]

التحكم الانفعالى عند العمل أثناء الضغط هو أكثر ما استفدت منه من قراءة هذا الكتاب

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing really wrong with it but it’s kinda boring/slow and no real new info. Don’t regret reading it but other books cover a lot of these topics better.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Didn't have any mind blowing revelations reading this book but it did provide a very thorough overview of the elements that make up emotional intelligence or emotional IQ: emotional self awareness, assertiveness, self-regard, self-actualization, independence, empathy, healthy relationships, social responsibility, problem solving, reality testing, flexibility, stress tolerance, impulse control, happiness and optimism.

I liked that he suggested readers could evaluate their own strengths and weaknesses in these areas without having to pay big bucks for specialized testing.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book present the concepts of emotional influence clearly and succinctly. I especially liked how the different facets of what emotional intelligence looks like in expression/relating to others. The exercises are also simple, easy to integrate and good reminders of how we can improve our relations with others, whether that be at work, at home or otherwise.

[Wil Roese · Rating 2 out of 5]

People keep writing "self-help" books on how to be happy and successful, as if it were a mystery that they have just recently unlocked, but the answer has been known for thousands of years. It's called virtue.

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though this isn't a bad book, much better books on EI have been written. This one is very accessible but deviates from the core topic so often that it reads as self-helpy rather than expository.

[Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite good overall, though at times it did feel like the author had put an EI book and a standard self-help book into a blender to create this.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book for self-development :)

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good overview of the subject -- even if this book felt like a Southwest Airlines commercial every once in a while!

[Fariz Abdussalam · Rating 3 out of 5]

point per point with simple yet effective explanation of emotional intelligence

[Gino DiCostanzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written

I discovered what emotional intelligence is about a year ago, this book spells it out clearly and speaks to the man on the street. I highly recommend it!!!

[J Crossley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book explains what emotional intelligence is and how it can be harnessed in our lives. Emotional intelligence helps us to get along with people better.

[Pham Tuyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cũng khá là hay. Nhiều điều đáng lưu tâm. Có chút gì đó giống với 7 thói quen của Steve Harvey.

[Stacey Allen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had a tough time staying engaged in this book.

[Juan-Manuel Ahuactzin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinary, it shows you how to improve your behaviour to get the best of you and not exped time and energy in unsuccessful actions.